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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mitchell Kenny | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 January 1998 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (14 st 2 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Hooker, Lock | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 27 April 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mitchell Kenny (born 15 January 1998) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He is a NRL premiership winning player of 2022 and 2023.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Kenny grew up in the suburb of McGraths Hill and was educated at Arndell Anglican College, Oakville.
Kenny played junior rugby league for Windsor Wolves before being selected for the Penrith Panthers under-17 development squad.
Kenny also played SG Ball with Penrith, winning various matches throughout that year, including the national under-18's championship. He started to move his way up through the ranks of Penrith, playing with the under-20s team for two years and then moving onto their Canterbury Cup NSW squad.
Kenny made his first grade debut in round 11 of the 2019 NRL season for Penrith in their 16–10 victory over the Parramatta Eels at the new Western Sydney Stadium. [2] [3]
Kenny was limited to only six games for Penrith in the 2020 NRL season and missed on playing in the clubs Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm.
Kenny played 18 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season but missed out on playing in Penrith's 2021 NRL Grand Final victory over South Sydney due to an injury he sustained during the clubs victory over the Parramatta Eels in the semi-final.
Ahead of the 2022 NRL season, Kenny re-signed with the Penrith Panthers until the end of the 2024 season. [4] During round 4 of the 2022 season, he scored his first NRL try in Penrith's 32–12 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Western Sydney Stadium. [5] Kenny played 24 games for Penrith throughout the season including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta. [6]
On 18 February, Kenny played in Penrith's 13–12 upset loss to St Helens RFC in the 2023 World Club Challenge. [7] In round 4 of the 2023 NRL season, Kenny was sent to the sin bin during golden point extra-time against Parramatta due to a dangerous high tackle on Waqa Blake. Parramatta would kick a field goal from the resulting penalty to win 17–16. [8] Kenny played 23 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the clubs 26–24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership. Kenny scored the opening try of the final. [9] On 26 December, Kenny was placed under investigation by the NRL and Penrith for allegedly posting a picture to his instagram account with the caption "couple Boxing Day lines have got me in trouble". Kenny later took the picture down and posted a caption which read "Happy new year guys. Enjoy... and ignore trolls who grabbed my phone,". The NRL later released a statement saying "The NRL is aware of the matter and will be liaising with the club,". [10]
On 8 February, Kenny was handed with a breach notice by the NRL for his instagram post dating back to December 2023. The NRL released a statement which read “The National Rugby League (NRL) today issued Penrith Panthers player Mitch Kenny with a Breach Notice alleging a breach of the NRL Code of Conduct following an NRL Integrity Unit investigation into a social media post in December, 2023,” the NRL’s statement read. It is alleged Kenny engaged in conduct which has brought the game and his Club into disrepute. Kenny has five business days to respond to the Breach Notice". [11] On 24 February, Kenny played in Penrith's 2024 World Club Challenge final loss against Wigan. [12]
Stats correct as of the end of the 2023 season [13]
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |  Penrith | 12 | ||
| 2020 | 6 | |||
| 2021 | 18 | |||
| 2022 | 24 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 23 | 1 | 4 | |
| Totals | 83 | 2 | 8 |
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL). The team is based 55 km (34 mi) west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith are the current reigning NRL Premiers, having won the title five times, including the last three times consecutively.
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Mitch Rein is a former Australian rugby league footballer who last played as a hooker for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Brad Arthur is a professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
George Jennings is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a winger for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Waqa Blake is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and wing for St Helens in the Betfred Super League and Fiji at international level.
Nathan Cleary is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Penrith Panthers in the Australian NRL and Australia at international level. He won the Clive Churchill Medal in 2021 and 2023 as well as Dally M Halfback of the year in 2020 and 2021. As co-captain, Cleary also led the Penrith Panthers to three consecutive premiership wins from 2021 to 2023. Being the captain in all 4 of his grand final appearances, he is considered one of the best halfbacks of all time.
Moses Leota is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop and lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He has played for both Samoa and New Zealand at international level.
Tyrone May is an Australian international rugby league footballer who plays for the Hull KR in the English Super League. Primarily a stand-off, May has played in a number of other positions during his career, including centre, scrum-half, loose forward and fullback.
Jarome Luai is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He is a three time premiership winning player with the Panthers, and he has represented the NSW Blues in State of Origin, Samoa at test and 9's level and the Māori All Stars at international level.
Oregon Kaufusi is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League.
Dylan Brown is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.
Brian To'o is an Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
Spencer Leniu is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Stephen Crichton is a Samoan professional rugby league footballer who plays for and captains the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL and Samoa at international level. He has represented the NSW Blues in State of Origin.
Charlie Staines is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or fullback for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).
J'maine Dale Hopgood is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Izack Tago is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
Viliami Penisini is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
The 2022 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2022 National Rugby League season in Australia. It was contested between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels on Sunday the 2nd of October at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Penrith, who were both the defending premiers and minor premiers, won the match 28–12 to claim their fourth premiership title, and their first back-to-back premierships in the club's 56-year history. Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for being judged as the man of the match.
